computer, where am I?

Today it is my Mom's birthday and tomorrow is my boyfriend's birthday! They exchanged gifts today and it was pretty great, my parents got him a Redwings winter cap and Matt got my mom the Star Trek DVD. Besides birthday extravaganzas, my buddy Erica Wilson is having her bridal shower and I must answer my  maiden duties.

I finally decided what to buy for my birthday from my parents. It took me forever but I decided to get within my given budget; Canon 580ex II Flash, 5 in 1 Reflector, Flash Diffuser, Tripod, and a sync cord for off camera flash fun. These are basic things, but again I am finally building up my very own collection. The use of natural and manipulated light excites me beyond belief.

Tonight was ended with watching Star Trek while drinking "Birthday Week Champaign" with my boo. On birthdays I am overwhelmed with gratefulness for that person's existence. It is all so obvious, but sometimes the obvious can be in oblivion.

enjoy in joy

Today I tried to think about what I really enjoy, here are a few.

I enjoy people because I have always seen possibility in every one of them. I see their greatness and their faults, people amaze me with their memories and dreams.

Documentaries are so elegant and telling, while watching them I feel a great calling; I want to be part of one... even if it means holding a reflector to achieve that perfect light in which the subject gleams.

Illustrators hold a magic which I wish I could see in Photographers. Being a photographer myself, it is kind of odd but a huge part of it is that they could do what they do without any huge amount of technology. Illustrators that I hold near can laugh all the time, and I want to be like that.

Color and light are never boring, they make up this world and I enjoy this world.

Hello Loans!

I decided to update my art blog again... so that was odd and fun.

Typing Micaela

I remember my roommates professor commenting on an illustration she made of a girl running free after graduation, he told her to add the loan wolfs chasing her and it would be complete. I completely understand what he was saying. Although no one has been nagging me (since nothing is due yet) I thought I would get a head start today and see what I could do about somehow getting more time for that well paying job to pay back my very expensive education. So far I have gotten a lot of great people on the phone, the right forms and very detailed advice on how not to be denied for silly mistakes.

Life is not what I expected it to be right now at all, but I am doing okay with a few great friends, a caring family, the most loving boyfriend... and my art <3

card

Costume

Schools

filled

Well I didn't get the job with Microsoft, I found out today. I'm getting used to it, they must know about my mac ways. Funds are running low and I realized that I can get unemployment benefits since all I've done is work since I was 15. Well it doesn't work exactly like that but I qualified. I know that I've worked for the benefits for rough times but I don't like the feeling, I would rather be working. I am still grateful because it is a rough time right now. I had not even considered applying for it since I thought that I would have a steady income by now.

I finally set up my scanner, cleaned it up and put new inks in it. This all in one monster was originally for my cake project I did my senior year. I filled it with edible inks and printed away delightful compositions of my life. I can't buy any edible inks right now so I filled it with the regular inks it came with. At least I know that when I do have enough cash I can flush out the regular ink and go back to make my edible art.

Here is a photo that I keep on my desk of myself and Matt Chung my lovely friend. We were outside on campus enjoying one of the many food feasts in the year 2008. I miss talking about how crazy and great we are going to be when we are old and wrinkly.

Ryan is leaving again for an internship. It is in New York for 6 weeks with a design firm. Last time he left for 6 months so this should pass quickly. I am so proud of Ryan but I dread him leaving. He is my friend that always has time for me. I met Ryan at the C.C.S. Camp Portfolio when I was 17, and we have been friends ever since. Six years and counting, he has been with me through it all.

(A group photo from the camp. That is me in the yellow, Ryan is the fellow to the left behind me in the striped shirt. Look at all those awkward babies!)

Ryan is clever and caring and damn it I'm going to miss him.

O

I , like most, am in awe of Oprah.

She made this list: "Top 20 Things Oprah Knows for Sure"

1. What you put out comes back all the time, no matter what. (This is my creed.)

2. You define your own life. Don't let other people write your script.

3. Whatever someone did to you in the past has no power over the present. Only you give it power.

4. When people show you who they are, believe them the first time. (A lesson from Maya Angelou.)

5. Worrying is wasted time. Use the same energy for doing something about whatever worries you.

6. What you believe has more power than what you dream or wish or hope for. You become what you believe.

7. If the only prayer you ever say is thank you, that will be enough. (From the German theologian and humanist Meister Eckhart.)

8. The happiness you feel is in direct proportion to the love you give.

9. Failure is a signpost to turn you in another direction.

10. If you make a choice that goes against what everyone else thinks, the world will not fall apart.

11. Trust your instincts. Intuition doesn't lie.

12. Love yourself and then learn to extend that love to others in every encounter.

13. Let passion drive your profession.

14. Find a way to get paid for doing what you love. Then every paycheck will be a bonus.

15. Love doesn't hurt. It feels really good.

16. Every day brings a chance to start over.

17. Being a mother is the hardest job on earth. Women everywhere must declare it so.

18. Doubt means don't. Don't move. Don't answer. Don't rush forward.

19. When you don't know what to do, get still. The answer will come.

20. "Trouble don't last always." (A line from a Negro spiritual, which calls to mind another favorite: This, too, shall pass.)

flight

Saturday Maria, Chris and Matt came over. We bought beer, snacks, made spagetti and picked up a movie. It made me happy. 

A few photo ideas popped into my head this past week which is exciting. For some reason I have been feeling like I don't deserve to take on a project, that is just too ridiculous that I felt that way. I am used to having a directed project, I forgot about my time with my 35 mm before school and competitions. 

I wish that I had something exciting to report on but life has been pretty consistent with "nothing much". 

later and later

What kind of schedule am I on? It is almost 4 a.m...sheesh.

I was talking to my old classmate Nathan Lomas and thought about how much I enjoy talking to him and how I would like to keep in touch with all of my photo friends. I miss making work to show them, and seeing their works of art up aganist the wall. So I asked Nate if he thinks we could start a blog, and so we did it! The blog will be a place for us to have that creative and honest circle again. It is going to be a virtual potluck of sorts. I'm still creating a fun banner for it so once I'm done with that I'll contact everyone and hope they join.

bff

I didn't get the job in Seattle, sad news. The talent manger said that she would put in a good word for me to the other talent managers. I was surprised that just a  couple of days later I was contacted about a possible position in Seattle from a different talent manager. This job is very similar to the last; a contract position with Microsoft. As far as I know it would be for at least a year. I'm happy that Filter has me in mind for some positions.

Matt gave me my birthday present...... A BRAND NEW WACOM TABLET! It is so wonderful and beautiful and my new best friend. I'm so used to just renting whatever I wanted from school. Those days are over and now I can't wait to work as hard as I have to build up a beautiful collection of technology and what nots. Well I guess I just had to love Matt for this one.

Birds

I tried to make a scarf, it looks like a sad pot holder.

I'm trying to get rid of stuff, so maybe I should post the good stuff here and give it away or something. I'm keeping my certificate that proclaims me as master of mythology... or something like that haha.

I like when my friends post photos of their living spaces. They look just like them with their colors, textures and wonderful finds.

I think I should make a photo list of ten things I can do with my new yarn creation.

Time to look through my stuff and decide what is worth holding on to.